Robert M. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Robert Maskell Patterson (1787–1854) was a professor of mathematics, chemistry and natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania
(1812-1828) and professor of natural philosophy
at the University of Virginia
(1828–1835) before serving as director of the US Mint from 1835 to 1851. In his academic and professional life, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Robert Patterson
, who was also a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and who served as director of the US Mint from 1805 to 1824. His mother was Amy Hunter Ewing and he was one of eight children of that marriage. The younger Patterson was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
in 1809 and eventually became its vice-president (his father was elected in 1783) and (again, like his father) was interested mainly in astronomy and geophysics. He was asked by a committee of the APS in 1836 to write a brief report on recommendations for astronomical and physics observations to be carried out by the United States Exploring Expedition
, or US Ex Ex, which sailed in 1838.
s and regularly exchanged coded correspondence with Thomas Jefferson
. One of Patterson's ciphers included in a December 19, 1801 dated letter to Jefferson was decoded in 2007 by Dr. Lawren Smithline.
The cipher consists of 7 digit pairs and is decoded by decrypting 7 blocks at a time.
The cipher was of the Declaration of Independence
which Jefferson was the primary author. Patterson called it his "perfect cipher" and Jefferson considered adopting it for government use.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(1812-1828) and professor of natural philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(1828–1835) before serving as director of the US Mint from 1835 to 1851. In his academic and professional life, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson (educator)
Robert Patterson was an American educator and director of the United States Mint. He was born on a lease-held farm near Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland, emigrated to the United States in 1768, and lived for a time in Philadelphia.In 1774, he became principal of an academy in Wilmington, Delaware...
, who was also a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and who served as director of the US Mint from 1805 to 1824. His mother was Amy Hunter Ewing and he was one of eight children of that marriage. The younger Patterson was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in 1809 and eventually became its vice-president (his father was elected in 1783) and (again, like his father) was interested mainly in astronomy and geophysics. He was asked by a committee of the APS in 1836 to write a brief report on recommendations for astronomical and physics observations to be carried out by the United States Exploring Expedition
United States Exploring Expedition
The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones. The voyage was authorized by Congress in...
, or US Ex Ex, which sailed in 1838.
Cryptology
Patterson was interested in cipherEncryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
s and regularly exchanged coded correspondence with Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. One of Patterson's ciphers included in a December 19, 1801 dated letter to Jefferson was decoded in 2007 by Dr. Lawren Smithline.
The cipher consists of 7 digit pairs and is decoded by decrypting 7 blocks at a time.
The cipher was of the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
which Jefferson was the primary author. Patterson called it his "perfect cipher" and Jefferson considered adopting it for government use.